Seoul [South Korea], February 27: Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reportedly frequently discussed declaring martial law while drinking with officials.
According to AFP citing the book "The People First" by former leader of the ruling People's Power Party ( PPP ) Han Dong-hoon, released on February 26, many South Korean government officials had heard President Yoon Suk Yeol raise the possibility of imposing martial law, but they ignored that statement.
"A large number of PPP lawmakers who drank with President Yoon said he often talked about martial law at private parties. They bitterly admitted that they did not realize that he really had that intention," Mr. Han wrote.
Mr. Han's book revolves around insider stories about the fateful night of December 3, 2024, when President Yoon declared martial law. At this time, Mr. Han was still the leader of the PPP. On December 16, 2024, Mr. Han resigned amid the party's internal crisis.
The book opens with a dramatic text exchange between Mr. Han and an unnamed senior official of President Yoon shortly before martial law was declared, in which the unnamed official warns that "the worst" is about to happen.
Former PPP leader Han wrote that many lawmakers feared being arrested and killed that night, but continued to pressure the South Korean National Assembly to vote against martial law. "I might be arrested, but I have to accept it. I need to go to the National Assembly as soon as possible, there is no time left," the former PPP leader recalled telling the party's spokesman that night.
The former PPP leader said the concerns were well-founded because a former senior intelligence official possessed a memo containing a list of individuals that President Yoon had ordered arrested that night, including Mr. Han.
"If the martial law situation is not resolved quickly, it seems that many important problems will arise in foreign and security affairs, including relations with the United States," Mr. Han added. Mr. Han argued that a US official at the time had expressed "serious concerns" about martial law.
President Yoon and South Korean officials have not yet responded to the above information.
President Yoon is currently in custody awaiting his next trial on charges of rebellion. His impeachment hearing at the Seoul Constitutional Court ended on February 25. A verdict is expected in mid-March.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
